Chapter 5 – Sergeant Major Tom

Chapter 5 – Sergeant Major Tom

'If you didn’t want a clip round the ear, don’t cross Tom Walley'


Meet Sergeant Major Tom Walley, the man who built Watford’s youth system and turned boys into men.


When Graham Taylor arrived at Watford there was no youth system to speak of. Their were barely enough young players to put out a side. Taylor knew that if Watford were to compete in the top divisions they needed to identify and develop their own young players.


Tom Walley was a Hornets favourite – a veteran of Ken Furphy's team that reached the Second Division the first time round – but his knees had gone and his playing days were coming to an end.


When Taylor met Walley for the first time he spotted something in the Welshman and put him in charge of revolutionising the youth set-up. Walley's combination of carrot and stick, his ability to identify talent and teach them what it would take to make it as a professional, paid dividends many times over as Watford earned a reputation for a progressive approach to developing young players.


Enjoy the game by Lionel Birnie. Read by Colin Mace. Produced by Jon Moonie.

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Chapter 26 – Everything Changes

Chapter 26 – Everything Changes

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Chapter 25 – Call Me Harry

Chapter 25 – Call Me Harry

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Chapter 24 – The End of an Era

Chapter 24 – The End of an Era

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Chapter 23 – From a Wine Bar to Villa Park

Chapter 23 – From a Wine Bar to Villa Park

'Never in a million years did we think we’d need him'Watford's build-up to the 1987 FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur was plagued by misfortune. First Tony Coton got injured. Then his goalke...

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Chapter 22 – The Battle of Highbury

Chapter 22 – The Battle of Highbury

'I hated playing on the wing. I absolutely hated it' – David BardsleyGraham Taylor's gradual evolution produced arguably the finest team of his ten year reign in 1986-87. Tony Coton was the best uncap...

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Chapter 21 – Cally

Chapter 21 – Cally

'Right foot or left, Cally could drive it in, float it in or curl it. Brilliant'A portrait of an icon, one of the most mercurial homegrown talents in the club’s history. Nigel Callaghan was often not ...

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Chapter 20 – An Extra Pass

Chapter 20 – An Extra Pass

'You’re turning me into a Watford player now' – Brian TalbotAs Graham Taylor continues to refresh the team, not every player fits the mould. Watford move into the transfer market again to add Brian Ta...

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Chapter 19 – The Family Club

Chapter 19 – The Family Club

English football was in the doldrums in the 1980s. Hooliganism was thought of as 'the English disease'. English fans caused trouble at home and abroad, culminating in the tragic violence that marred t...

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